Bible Dictionary
COMPARE
To compare means to examine things together for likeness, difference, or relative value. Scripture uses the idea for likening, equating, arranging, and interpreting or relating spiritual truths appropriately.
Definition
To compare means to examine things together for likeness, difference, equality, arrangement, or relative value. It may involve likening one thing to another, setting things in order, or judging them together.
Biblical Usage
Scripture uses comparison for likening, equating, and arranging. “Comparing spiritual things with spiritual” may also be rendered combining or interpreting spiritual things to spiritual people.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>kom-par' (damah, mashal, [`arakh]; paraballo, sugkrino): "Compare" is the translation of damah, "to be like" (So 1:9); of mashal, "to liken," "compare" (Isa 46:5); of `arakh, "to set in array," "compare" (Ps 89:6; Isa 40:18); of shawah, "to be equal" (Pr 3:15; 8:11).</p><p>In the New Testament sugkrino, "to judge" or "sift together," is translated "comparing," "comparing spiritual things with spiritual" (1Co 2:13 the English Revised Version), the American Standard Revised Version "combining" ("adapting the discourse to the subject," Thayer), the Revised Version, margin "interpreting spiritual things to spiritual (men)."</p><p>W. L. Walker</p>